Proton returns refurbished Iswara to engineer
Late last year, Norzamzarini Mohd Bajuri was announced as another lucky winner of the hugely popular ‘My Proton Makeover’ programme. Yesterday, the 35-year-old Johor-based software engineer received his trusty Proton Iswara Aeroback fully refurbished by the R3 Unit of Proton Motorsports Division.
Norzamzarini had bought his red Iswara Aeroback in 1998 as a second hand purchase, and the car has served him faithfully ever since. In his submission, Norzamzarini stated that his love to his car was till the point where ‘death does them part’. That line was enough to convince Proton to splash the cash to have his car remade, and the announcement of his win almost coincided with the birth of his fourth daughter.
“This new lease of life that Proton has given to my car is a gift beyond words and is truly a blessing to me and my family. Thank you so much Proton!” said Norzamzarini
When he received the car last year, R3’s Head of Engineering Tengku Djan Ley bin Tengku Mahaleel noted the excellent condition of Norzamzarini’s Iswara and expressed the collective excitement in his team to restore yet another Proton car to its former glory. Keeping in mind that the Iswara serves as Norzamzarini’s daily transport, conscious care was made to retain a level of day-to-day usability in the car whilst injecting a dose of sportiness.
“As it was the primary mode of transport for Norzamzarini and his family, the car clocked high mileage with its daily use. Knowing that the consistency of its usage will continue, the work that was done to the car’s performance was not so much as to give it more power, but to improve its drivability and efficiency,” explained Tengku Djan Ley.
The vehicle’s engine and transmission were given complete overhauls, while its suspension undoubtedly received some special tweaks from R3. Tengku Djan explained that it was adjusted to give Norzamzarini’s car a standard feel even whilst looking sporty, emphasising that the main outcome is to obtain balanced performance for day-to-day driving.
“We also opted to use 15 inch rims to improve and sustain the car’s balance, so that it will not result in high fuel consumption,” Tengku Djan added.
Because Norzamzarini’s favourite colour is orange, the Iswara gets a new coat of bright Lotus orange paint to replace the original solid red. The interior features a dark colour scheme with hues of the Lotus orange colour to complement its exterior.
“There was a slight fear that this could potentially make his car look a little tacky. However, the decision to use a significant amount of Titanium-coloured detailing helped us avoid that and ultimately gave the car a uniquely classy and sporty look,” Tengku Djan noted with satisfaction. Indeed, we reckon Norzamzarini ought to be very pleased with the result.
Pictures: Official Proton release.
